49.46.020 - Minimum hourly wage.

Minimum hourly wage.

(1) Until January 1, 1999, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who has reached the age of eighteen years wages at a rate of not less than four dollars and ninety cents per hour.

     (2) Beginning January 1, 1999, and until January 1, 2000, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who has reached the age of eighteen years wages at a rate of not less than five dollars and seventy cents per hour.

     (3) Beginning January 1, 2000, and until January 1, 2001, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who has reached the age of eighteen years wages at a rate of not less than six dollars and fifty cents per hour.

     (4)(a) Beginning on January 1, 2001, and each following January 1st as set forth under (b) of this subsection, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who has reached the age of eighteen years wages at a rate of not less than the amount established under (b) of this subsection.

     (b) On September 30, 2000, and on each following September 30th, the department of labor and industries shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to maintain employee purchasing power by increasing the current year's minimum wage rate by the rate of inflation. The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, or a successor index, for the twelve months prior to each September 1st as calculated by the United States department of labor. Each adjusted minimum wage rate calculated under this subsection (4)(b) takes effect on the following January 1st.

     (5) The director shall by regulation establish the minimum wage for employees under the age of eighteen years.

[1999 c 1 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 688, approved November 3, 1998); 1993 c 309 § 1; 1989 c 1 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 518, approved November 8, 1988); 1975 1st ex.s. c 289 § 2; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 9 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 80 § 1; 1961 ex.s. c 18 § 3; 1959 c 294 § 2.]

Notes: Effective date -- 1993 c 309: "This act shall take effect January 1, 1994." [1993 c 309 § 2.]

Effective date -- 1989 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 518): See note following RCW 49.46.010.

Notification of employers: RCW 49.46.140.